Kenny Wheeler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kenny Wheeler
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Wheeler in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler |
| Born | 14 January 1930 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | 18 September 2014 (aged 84) London, England |
| Genres | Jazz, avant-garde jazz, chamber jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Trumpet, flugelhorn |
| Years active | 1950–2014 |
| Labels | ECM, Fontana, FMP, Soul Note, PSI, CAM Jazz |
| Associated acts | John Dankworth, Evan Parker, John Taylor, Azimuth, Anthony Braxton, Dave Holland, Globe Unity Orchestra, Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra |
Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler (born January 14, 1930 – died September 18, 2014) was a famous Canadian composer and musician. He played the trumpet and flugelhorn. From the 1950s, he lived and worked in the United Kingdom.
Kenny Wheeler was mostly known for his jazz music. He also explored free improvisation, which is when musicians make up music on the spot. Sometimes, he even played on rock music recordings. Wheeler wrote more than 100 songs and was very good at arranging music for both small groups and large bands. He was also a supporter of the Royal Academy Junior Jazz course.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Kenny Wheeler was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 14, 1930. When he was 12 years old, he started playing the cornet. In his mid-teens, he became very interested in jazz music.
In 1950, Wheeler spent a year studying how to compose music at The Royal Conservatory of Music. Two years later, in 1952, he moved to Britain. There, he joined the London jazz scene. He played in groups led by well-known musicians like Tommy Whittle and Ronnie Scott.
Kenny Wheeler's Music Career
In the late 1950s, Kenny Wheeler was part of Buddy Featherstonhaugh's quintet. From 1959 to 1965, he played in John Dankworth's orchestra. During this time, he also continued to study composition. He learned from famous composers like Richard Rodney Bennett.
Wheeler often performed his own music with large jazz groups. His first album as a leader was Windmill Tilter in 1969. He recorded it with the John Dankworth band. Another big band album, Song for Someone (1973), was very special. It mixed Wheeler's orchestral style with parts where musicians like Evan Parker played freely. This album was even named "Album of the Year" by Melody Maker magazine in 1975.
In the mid-1960s, Wheeler became a key part of the new free improvisation movement in London. He played with groups like the Spontaneous Music Ensemble. But he was also very famous for his work with smaller jazz groups. His albums Gnu High (1975) and Deer Wan (1977) for the ECM label were very popular. Gnu High is special because it features Keith Jarrett, a famous pianist.
From 1971 to 1976, Wheeler was the trumpet player in the Anthony Braxton Quartet. He was also a member of a jazz trio called Azimuth. In this group, he played with John Taylor and Norma Winstone. They released their first album in 1977.
Later Life and Final Works
In 1990, Kenny Wheeler released Music for Large & Small Ensembles. This album included "The Sweet Time Suite," which was one of his most important works for a big band. In 1997, his album Angel Song received great reviews. It featured a unique group without a drummer, including Bill Frisell on guitar and Dave Holland on bass.
Wheeler recorded seven albums with CAM Jazz between 2005 and 2008. His very last album, Songs for Quintet, was recorded in 2013 for ECM. Kenny Wheeler passed away on September 18, 2014, in London. He was 84 years old.
Discography
As leader/co-leader
- 1968: Windmill Tilter (Fontana) with The John Dankworth Orchestra
- 1973: Song for Someone (Incus)
- 1975: Gnu High (ECM)
- 1976: Ensemble Fusionaire (CBC)
- 1977: Deer Wan (ECM)
- 1980: Around 6 (ECM)
- 1984: Double, Double You (ECM)
- 1988: Flutter By, Butterfly (Soul Note)
- 1988: Visions (Justin Time)
- 1990: Music for Large & Small Ensembles (ECM)
- 1990: The Widow in the Window (ECM)
- 1991: Spanish Rhapsody (with Creative Art Ensemble Hungary by György Vukán)
- 1992: Kayak (Ah Um)
- 1997: All the More (Soul Note) recorded 1993
- 1997: Angel Song (ECM)
- 1999: A Long Time Ago (ECM)
- 2003: Island (Artists House) with Bob Brookmeyer
- 2003: Dream Sequence (Psi, 1995–2003 [2003])
- 2004: Where Do We Go from Here? (CAM Jazz) with John Taylor
- 2005: What Now? (CAM Jazz)
- 2006: It Takes Two! (CAM Jazz)
- 2008: Other People (CAM Jazz) with Hugo Wolf String Quartet featuring John Taylor
- 2011: One of Many (CAM Jazz) with John Taylor and Steve Swallow
- 2012: The Long Waiting (CAM Jazz)
- 2013: Mirrors (Edition Records) London Vocal Project with Norma Winstone
- 2013: Six for Six (CAM Jazz, recorded 2008)
- 2015: Songs for Quintet (ECM, recorded 2013)
- 2015: On the Way to Two (CAM Jazz, recorded 2005)
See also
In Spanish: Kenny Wheeler para niños
